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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — the fish
  5. date — the fruit
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rock — music
  10. court — of law
  11. board — a committee
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. court — for sport
  16. pit — a hole
  17. board — to get on
  18. rock — a stone
  19. court — of a king
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. deal — to handle
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. perch — for a bird

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com